Apparatus, system, and method for extending an exterior wall surface below a debridge of a weep screed

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system, and method extend the exterior surface of a wall below a debridge of the weep screed. An exemplary weep screed includes an upper vertical flange, a debridge, and a lower screed portion that allows an exterior surface material to be applied below the debridge. The lower screed portion includes a lower vertical flange that extends form a lower debridge member to a tool guide. In addition to application of the exterior surface material above the debridge, the exterior surface is applied over the lower screed portion. The resulting exterior surface extends the full height of the wall while damage due to moisture is minimized since the debridge facilitates the weeping of water from the exterior surface above the debridge. The “high tide” appearance is eliminated while meeting building code requirements and maintaining a dependable, weather resistant, and structurally sound building wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to building construction and morespecifically to an apparatus, system, and method for extending anexterior surface below a debridge of a weep screed.

Buildings often include exterior surface materials such as stucco thatare applied to the exterior of the building walls. Weep screeds areattached near the bottom of exterior wall to provide support for theexterior surface and maintain a moisture barrier between the exteriorsurface material and the interior structure of the wall. Exteriorsurface materials are typically porous and allow water to permeatethrough the exterior surface to a moisture barrier such as buildingpaper. Water is pulled down the wall by gravity until it reaches aprotruding portion of the weep screed which directs water toward theexterior of the wall where the moisture is dissipated by theenvironment. The protruding portion, sometimes referred to as adebridge, forms an air gap near the substructure that facilitates theremoval and dissipation of moisture. An excessive accumulation of waterin the exterior surface can lead to cracking and damage to the wallabove the horizontal line of the debridge due to induced tension on theupper wall section caused by excess weight.

Conventional weep screeds, however, are limited in several ways. Forexample, building codes and conventional techniques require that theexterior surface material extend no higher that six inches above a plantgrade or two inches above a hardscape surface such as a concrete patioor driveway. As a result, conventional techniques result in a finishedstucco wall having a “high tide” appearance where the bottom of theexterior wall is positioned above the finished grade. The discontinuoussurface is undesired by many building owners that prefer the stucco wallto extend to the surface of the landscape or hardscape.

Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus, system, and method forextending an exterior surface below a debridge of a weep screed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of a section of weepscreed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of a buildingwall including the exemplary weep screed where the exterior grade is afinished planter grade.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a building wallincluding the exemplary weep screed where the exterior grade ishardscape such as concrete.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of a buildingwall including the weep screed where the exterior grade is a finishedplanter grade and the foundation includes a two-pour stem wall.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of a buildingwall including the weep screed where the exterior grade is hardscape andthe foundation includes a two-pour stem wall.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a perspective view of the building wallincluding the weep screed where the exterior grade is hardscape and thefoundation includes a two-pour stem wall.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of weep screedin accordance with a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of weep screedin accordance with a third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of weep screedin accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of weep screedin accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An apparatus, system, and method extend the exterior surface of a wallbelow a debridge of the weep screed. An exemplary weep screed includesan upper vertical flange, a debridge, and a lower screed portion thatallows an exterior surface material to be applied below the debridge. Inthe exemplary embodiment, the lower screed portion includes a lowervertical flange that extends form a lower debridge member to a toolguide. In addition to application of the exterior surface material abovethe debridge, the exterior surface is applied over the lower screedportion. The resulting exterior surface extends the full height of thewall while damage due to moisture is minimized since the debridgefacilitates the weeping of water from the exterior surface above thedebridge. The “high tide” appearance is eliminated while meetingbuilding code requirements and maintaining a dependable, weatherresistant, and structurally sound building wall.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of a section of weepscreed 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.The weep screed 100 includes an upper portion 102 and a lower portion104 connected through a debridge 106. When installed within a buildingwall, an inner side 108 of the weep screed 100 faces a wallsubstructure, such as framing, and the debridge 106 extends outwardlyaway form the wall substructure. The upper portion 102 extends upwardfrom an upper debridge flange 110 and the lower portion 108 extendsdownward from a lower debridge flange 112 of the debridge 106. The upperdebridge flange 110 and the lower debridge flange 112 meet at a debridgeapex 114. The upper portion 102 comprises a substantially planar uppervertical flange 116 in the exemplary embodiment and is configured to bepositioned and secured adjacent to a wall substructure. The weep screed100 is attached to building by securing the upper vertical flange 116 tothe wall substructure using nails or screws such that the debridge 106extends outwardly from the wall substructure and forms a debridge cavity118 between an inner debridge surface 120 and the plane of the uppervertical flange 116. In the exemplary embodiment, the lower portion 104comprises a substantially planar lower vertical flange 122 extendingdownward from the lower debridge flange 112 within the same plane as theupper vertical flange 116. A tool guide 124 extends from the bottom ofthe lower vertical flange 122 outwardly from the lower vertical flange122 such that an outer surface plane is defined by the debridge apex 114and the edge 126 of the tool guide 124. The tool guide 124 facilitatesthe uniform application of exterior surface material such as stuccoplaster by allowing the builder to apply the uncured stucco plasterusing a trowel or other tool while using the debridge apex 114 and thetool guide 126 as guides.

The weep screed 100 is formed from any material having sufficientstrength, moisture resistance, and elasticity properties for applicationduring building construction and durability. In the exemplaryembodiment, the weep screed 100 is formed from a single piece of 22gauge cold rolled aluminum sheet metal using a forming press. Examplesof other suitable materials include plastics, galvanized sheet metal andwire lath products such as “weep aid”. In the exemplary embodiment, theweep screed 100 has a plurality of openings 128 to facilitate bendingand installation of the weep screed 100 and to facilitate adherence ofportland cementations products on and below the debridge 106. Theopenings 128 also benefit the capillary effect of horizontal moisturemovement along the debridge 106. In general, the upper debridge flange110 slopes down from the upper vertical flange at an angle (α) 130greater than ninety degrees. An example of a suitable angle 130 is 120degrees from the plane of the upper vertical flange 116. The angle (α)130, however, may be anywhere from 92 degrees to 178 degrees. In theexemplary embodiment, the lower debridge flange 112 slopes back towardthe inner side 108 to the lower vertical flange 122 to form an 120degree angle between the lower debridge flange 110 and the lowervertical flange 114. The angle (β) 132 between the lower debridge flange110 and the lower vertical flange 114, however, may be any value betweentwo and 178 degrees. As discussed below with reference to FIG. 7 throughFIG. 10, the debridge 106 may have any of number shapes and sizes,however. The lower debridge flange 112, for example, may be curved insome circumstances.

The dimensions of the weep screed 100 depend on the particularapplication. Generally, the upper vertical flange extends approximately3 to 4 inches from the debridge 106 to the top edge of the weep screed100. The lower vertical flange extends about 6 inches down from thedebridge 106 to the lower edge of the weep screed 100. The distance fromthe plane of the vertical upper flange 112 to the debridge apex 118 isapproximately the same as the total thickness of the exterior surfacematerial. For example, where an exterior stucco layer of a wall is ⅞″the weep screed is formed to position the debridge apex 118 at adistance of ⅞″ from the plane of the upper vertical flange 112.Accordingly, after the exterior surface material is applied the debridgeapex 114 is substantially flush with the surface of the exterior surfacematerial.

Therefore, the exemplary weep screed 100 includes a substantially planarupper vertical flange 116 having an inner surface 108 configured to bepositioned adjacent to a wall substructure, a debridge 106 extendingoutwardly to form a debridge cavity 118 between the plane of the uppervertical flange 116 and the inner debridge surface 120, and asubstantially planar lower vertical flange 122 extending down from thedebridge within the plane of the upper vertical flange 116. The debridge106 includes an upper debridge flange 110 extending outwardly from abottom of the upper vertical flange 116 at an angle greater than ninetydegrees from the upper vertical flange and a lower debridge flange 112extending from a bridge apex toward the plane of the upper verticalflange 116 to the lower vertical flange 122. The lower end of the upperdebridge flange 110 and the upper end of the lower debridge flange 112meet to form the debridge apex 114. The tool guide 126 extends outwardlyfrom a bottom of the lower vertical flange 122 and has an edge 126positioned at a distance substantially the same as the distance from theplane of the upper vertical flange to the debridge apex 114.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of a buildingwall 200 including the weep screed 100 where the exterior grade 202 is afinished planter grade 202. In the exemplary wall shown in FIG. 2, awall substructure 204 of the wall 200 includes framing, such as a sill206 framing studs 208, and sheathing 210. Although other materials maybe used in some circumstances, the sill 206 and studs are “2 inch”lumber planks such as “two by fours” or “two by sixes” for example. Asis known, the actual dimensions of lumber are less that the descriptivelumber dimensions. Although pressure treated lumber is used for the sill206, other materials may be used in some situations. The sheathing 210is ⅜″ or ½″ plywood in the exemplary embodiment. The wall 200 rests on afoundation 212 such as a Monolithic poured concrete foundation. Thefoundation 212 may be constructed using other techniques and, asdiscussed below with reference to FIG. 4, the foundation may be atwo-pour foundation as in commercial applications. The weep screed 100is attached to the wall substructure 204 of the wall 200 such that thedebridge 102 is positioned approximately level with the bottom of thesill 206. The weep screed 100 is attached to the wall substructure 204by securing the upper vertical flange to plywood sheathing 210 usingscrews or nails in the exemplary embodiment. In some circumstances, theweep screed 100 is attached to the sill 206 and/or the studs 208.

A moisture barrier 214 such as building paper is applied over thesheathing 210 and the upper vertical flange 112. A metal lath 216 suchas a “chicken wire” mesh is secured over the moisture barrier 214 beforethe exterior surface 218 material is applied. In the exemplaryembodiment, the exterior surface material 218 is exterior stucco appliedusing a three step “scratch, brown and finish” coat process. Examples ofother exterior surface materials 218 that can be used include two stepstucco applications such as EIFS (exterior insulation and finishsystems) where the finish stucco coat is applied over an insulatingsubstrate or interlocking foam board such as “Power Wall” and “Tyvek”.In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, a trowel is used to levelthe lower portion 220 of the exterior surface material that is appliedbelow the debridge 106 and above the tool guide 116 over the lowervertical flange 114. When the exterior surface material 218, 220 hascured, the exterior surface of the wall 200 extends past the debridgeapex 114 down to the finish grade 102.

Most, if not all, building codes require a foundation supporting wood toextend a minimum height (h) 222 above the adjacent finish grade.Building codes also require that the weep screed be applied a minimumheight above the finish grade. The codes often require different minimumheights depending on the type of grade. For example, a code may requirethat the weep screed extend a minimum of 4 inches above earth and aminimum of 2 inches above paved surfaces. Since the bottom of aconventional weep screed determines the bottom of the exterior surface,conventional designs result in a “high tide look” where the bottom ofthe exterior surface of a wall ends several inches above the finishgrade. Therefore, among other advantages, the weep screed 100 inaccordance with the exemplary embodiment provides an estheticallypleasing exterior wall surface that does not result in a “high tidelook”.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of a wall 200including a weep screed 100 where the exterior grade 302 is hardscape302 such as concrete. In the exemplary embodiment, the debridge apex 102is positioned approximately level with the bottom of the sill 206 and atleast 2 inches above the top surface of the hardscape. After theexterior surface material is applied over the lower portion of the weepcreed 100 as described above, a fiber expansion material 304 is appliedto the entire face of stucco above and below the debridge and cut at thedebridge to allow moisture to escape. The finish coat is applied using ahand trowel onto the surface to achieve a smooth pool trowel finish.Standard machine finishes can be applied to conventional scratch andbrown coats without the use of fiberglass expansion material in somesituations. In most situations, therefore, exterior materials areseparated from the face of the exterior surface adjacent to the lowervertical flange 114. The use of the exemplary weep screed 100 results inwall 200 having an exterior surface material that extends down to, orbelow, the top of the hardscape 302. The resulting configurationincludes hardscape 302 that abuts the exterior surface material 220.Accordingly, walls 200 near driveways, patios, concrete, asphalt, brick,stone, or tile have a substantial uniform exterior finish extending tothe top of the hardscape 302 without the “high-tide” look.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of a buildingwall 400 including the exemplary weep screed 100 where the exteriorgrade 202 is a finished planter grade 202 and the foundation 212 is atwo pour stem wall. As is known, a two pour or stem wall construction istypically used in commercial construction for slab-on gradeinstallations where the tenant layouts are not determined (shellconstruction) prior to construction. Such a technique is often used inshopping centers and retail strip malls. The technique is also gainingpopularity in higher-end residential construction is also used forresidential garage perimeters where the floors are sloped. A stem wall402 is typically formed before the interior floor 404 is poured. Theweep screed 100 is secured and installed as described above withreference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view and FIG. 6 isan illustration of a perspective view of the wall 400 including theexemplary weep screed 100 where the exterior grade 302 is hardscape 302and the foundation is a two-pour stem wall. During the formation of thestem wall 402, sections near entry ways are obstructed in order tocreate thresholds 502. Regulations, laws, and building codes may requirethat the difference between the height of the threshold 402 and theheight of the hardscape 302 be within a maximum differential (d).Coupled with the requirements of the relative location of a debridge114, the maximum differential may result in troublesome constructionusing conventional methods where an aesthetically appealingconfiguration of the exterior surface 218 is desired. Accordingly, theexemplary technique of construction using the weep screed 100 allows forminor variations and inconsistencies between the location of thedebridge 114 and the hardscape 302 while conforming to all of thebuilding codes and laws.

FIG. 7 through FIG. 10 are illustrations of cross-sectional side viewsof exemplary embodiments of the weep screed. FIG. 7 is an illustrationof a cross-sectional side view of weep screed 700 in accordance with asecond exemplary embodiment. The angle between the lower vertical flange122 and the lower debridge flange 112 is approximately ninety degrees inthe second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8 is an illustration of across-sectional side view of weep screed 800 in accordance with a thirdexemplary embodiment. The lower debridge flange 112 is shaped in an arcin the third exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 is an illustration of across-sectional side view of weep screed 900 in accordance with a fourthexemplary embodiment. The angle between the lower vertical flange 122and the lower debridge flange 112 is less than ninety degrees in thefourth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is an illustration of across-sectional side view of weep screed 1000 in accordance with a fifthexemplary embodiment. The angle between the lower vertical flange 122and the lower debridge flange 112 is greater than ninety degrees in thefifth exemplary embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize thevarious other shapes and angles that can be used for the debridge 114based on these teachings.

Clearly, other embodiments and modifications of this invention willoccur readily to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of theseteachings. The above description is illustrative and not restrictive.This invention is to be limited only by the following claims, whichinclude all such embodiments and modifications when viewed inconjunction with the above specification and accompanying drawings. Thescope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not withreference to the above description, but instead should be determinedwith reference to the appended claims along with their full scope ofequivalents.

1. A weep screed comprising: an upper vertical flange; an upper debridgeflange extending from a bottom of the upper vertical flange at an anglegreater than ninety degrees from the upper vertical flange; a lowerdebridge flange extending from a debridge apex toward a plane of theupper vertical flange, the debridge apex formed at a lower end of theupper debridge flange and an upper end of the lower debridge flange; anda lower vertical flange extending down from the lower debridge flange.2. A weep screed in accordance with claim 1, wherein the angle isbetween 110 degrees and 130 degrees.
 3. A weep screed in accordance withclaim 2, wherein the angle is approximately 120 degrees.
 4. A weepscreed in accordance with claim 1, wherein a lower flange angle formedbetween the lower debridge flange and the lower vertical flange isbetween 20 and 160 degrees.
 5. A weep screed in accordance with claim 4,wherein the lower flange angle is between 90 degrees and 150 degrees. 6.A weep screed in accordance with claim 5, wherein the lower flange angleis between approximately 120 degrees.
 7. A weep screed in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the lower debridge flange is curved.
 8. A weepscreed in accordance with claim 1, wherein the weep screed has aplurality of openings.
 9. A weep screed in accordance with claim 1,further comprising: a tool guide extending from a bottom of the lowervertical flange and having a width substantially the same as a distancefrom the plane of the upper vertical flange to the debridge apex.
 10. Abuilding wall comprising: a concrete wall stem extending upward fromground; a wall substructure having a sill adjacent to a top of theconcrete wall stem, the wall substructure extending upward from the wallstem; and a weep screed secured to the wall substructure to position adebridge apex of the weep screed approximately level with the top of thewall stem; the weep screed comprising: an upper vertical flange; anupper debridge flange extending from a bottom of the upper verticalflange at an angle greater than ninety degrees from the upper verticalflange; a lower debridge flange extending from the bridge apex toward aplane of the upper vertical flange, the debridge apex formed at a lowerend of the upper debridge flange and an upper end of the lower debridgeflange; and a lower vertical flange extending down from the lowerdebridge flange.
 11. A building wall in accordance with claim 10,further comprising: an upper exterior surface material adjacent to theupper vertical flange; and a lower exterior surface material adjacent tothe lower vertical flange.
 12. A building wall in accordance with claim11, wherein lower exterior surface material extends at least to a top ofexterior grade adjacent to the wall.
 13. A building wall in accordancewith claim 12, wherein the lower exterior surface material extends belowthe top of the exterior grade.
 14. A building wall in accordance withclaim 12, wherein the lower exterior surface material is stucco.
 15. Abuilding wall in accordance with claim 12, wherein the exterior grade isplanters grade.
 16. A building wall in accordance with claim 12, whereinthe exterior grade is hardscape.
 17. A building wall in accordance withclaim 12, wherein weep screed further comprises a tool guide extendingfrom a bottom of the lower vertical flange and having a widthsubstantially the same as a distance from the plane of the uppervertical flange to the debridge apex, an outermost surface of the lowerexterior surface material extending outward to an exterior plane definedby the debridge apex and an outer edge of the tool guide.
 18. A buildingwall in accordance with claim 10, wherein a height of the stem wall fromexterior grade to the top of the wall stem is within a code regulatedheight and a distance from the exterior grade to the debridge apex iswithin a code regulated distance.
 19. A weep screed comprising: asubstantially planar upper vertical flange having an inner surfaceconfigured to be positioned adjacent to a wall substructure; an upperdebridge flange extending outwardly and downwardly from a bottom of theupper vertical flange at an angle greater than ninety degrees from theupper vertical flange away toward a front surface opposite the rearsurface; a lower debridge flange extending from a bridge apex inwardlytoward a plane of the upper vertical flange, a lower end of the upperdebridge flange and an upper end of the lower debridge flange formingthe debridge apex; a substantially planar lower vertical flangeextending down from the lower debridge flange substantially within theplane of the upper vertical flange; and a tool guide extending outwardlyfrom a bottom of the lower vertical flange and having an edge positionedat a distance substantially the same as a debridge width from the planeto the debridge apex.
 20. A weep screed in accordance with claim 19,wherein the upper vertical flange, the upper debridge flange, the lowerdebridge flange, and the lower vertical flange are formed from a singlepiece of material.